Elmhurst Celebrates Its Roots With Traditional German Christmas Concert Dec. 2

The Elmhurst History Museum wants the city to celebrate its roots this holiday season — and that means more than opening presents December 25.

Before Santa Claus ever even existed, the museum pointed out in a release, Europeans celebrated St. Nicholas, the “bearer of gifts,” on Dec. 6 each year. Our American traditions stem from those festivities.

Elmhurst, whose roots are in Germany, will host its third annual “Jolly Old St. Nicholas Concert” Friday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. at the Yorkfield Presbyterian Church. German choirs will perform carols, hot cocoa and cookies will be free and St. Nicholas himself will, of course, make an appearance.

Jolly Old St. Nicholas will be played by Terry Lynch, a first-person history presenter who will share the tale of how St. Nick became so famous around the world. Two choirs who have been singing traditional German carols and songs in the Elmhurst area for more than 80 years will then perform. The women’s choir is known in German as the “Damenchor,” and the men’s chorus is known as the “Männerchor.”

Reservations for the free event can be made on the Elmhurst History Museum’s website, and parking will be available onsite.

Children are encouraged to wear their pajamas, and St. Nicholas will stick around for photos after the concert. A small gift for the little ones will also be given out.

The concert is slated to last about an hour and 15 minutes. Yorkfield Presbyterian Church is located at 1099 S. York St. in Elmhurst.

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Photos courtesy of the Elmhurst History Museum.